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Tall, regal trees reach for the sky as they have for hundreds of years, their crowns lending welcome shade in the summer and frosty artwork in the winter. Old leaves cover the ground, but obscured by plentiful underbrush, they are more felt than seen when walking over them. It is an oasis in an area otherwise covered by farmland, left alone to flourish where elsewhere the hand of man has cut down every tree for their own needs.

It is currently night time but the light of a flare provides illumination.

Sub-Rooms :

1. Front Line Trench

Contents

Teamann

Groves

Kelly

Davies

Bas

(Item 1) Wire Equipment

West <W> East <E>

South <S> North <N>

«Game» The enemy is near… Ypres Salient is now a war zone!

It's the dead of night. The action seems to have slackened at Polygon Wood… there's stuff going on elsewhere in the salient but not around here quite so much. There's been a fair bit of digging from both sides.

Tonight you've all been selected to lay the first wire around this part of the front. Wire stolen from some of the local farmers, as the BEF doesn't have any. So you're all burdened with posts, mallets (specially padded to make as little noise as possible) and lengths of barbed wire. Captain Harris is on hand, to bid you farewell.

"Now remember lads, we want the wire some distance from the trenches, a good fifty yards if possible.". That being, well out onto the road. "Wait for the buggers to send up the next flare, wait for it to burn out, and then off you go. Hopefully if they got any sentries they won't spot you.".

Davies has been released from hospital today. Lucky him. Right back to the trenches, in the dead of night, to pluck through barbed wire. Not so lucky him. He gathers up his supplies gingerly, afraid to cut himself on the laying tools, and listens to the captain give the spiel.

Bas nods his head a bit and considers, "We'll start down on the west end." he says after a few moments, "And work our way down to the corner." he takes a moment to look over his crew, "Keep quiet, and don't shoot unless fritz sees us." He adds.

Kelly isn't sure how he wound up in the wiring party, as dealing with fiddly sharp things under duress isn't really his speciality. He is more of a bull in a china shop kinda guy. But beggers can't be choosers. He tries not to manhandle the equipment too much as he collects it.

Teamann fidget. Guess who's back!? The wriggly sapper is back in action, and he's going with the wiring party. He looks to the others, nodding. "No shooting, wire." He repeats. Teamann is himself as usual, it seems.

Davies nods firmly along with the 'no shooting, wire' part. He can do that. Perhaps the night will stay quiet. Once his hands are free, he actually crosses a pair of fingers. He then awaits orders on where they're going on the like.

"Teamann, Davies, you two focus on wire to start off with, Kelly and I'll keep watch for sentries and scouts." Bas says, "Alright, let's move out and follow me lads." He says, and starts west down the line.

«Ground Combat» Bas moves West <W>.

«Ground Combat» Davies moves West <W>.

«Ground Combat» Kelly moves West <W>.

Kelly follows along, squinting into the darkness around them… hearing just the footsteps of the others and the soft clinking of their tools.

Bas moves on down the line, "Alright, go ahead and get comfy for a bit, we're still waiting on that next flare to launch." He says to everyone, waiting on the edge of the trench for just that.

Davies swivels his eyes up to the sky. He nods, following instructions, and eases himself down in the trench.

Teamann follows along, peering into the darkness. He nods, and waits quietly with the others. He fidgets a bit in place.

Kelly blinks up at the sky too and kneels down on his haunches as he waits, humming something jaunty sounding under his breath. At least it's a nice night to be out…so far…

"I want 6 strands on this section of the line." Bas says to the little team, "And 6 on the next stretch down. And we'll put the rest on the corner." He continues peering out and about as he waits.

Davies mutters, "Six strands here, six strands there…" to himself, so there's a better chance it fixes in his mind. He does that a few times, though eventually he gets to do it low enough to be inaudible. Then he goes back to watching the sky. "We going to go out into No Man's Land when a flare's up? Or we waiting until it goes up and out again?"

Teamann looks up to the sky. "Six here, six there," He ticks off on his fingers. He squirms a little, settled into the dirt. Waiting is hard.

Bas continues to hunker down a bit and wait. Not seeming in any huge rush to go out and get shot..

Davies certainly isn't going to venture out into No Man's Land without orders, so he follows the lead of the sergeant. He can't help but peer into the darkness south of them, though.

Kelly breaks his quiet hum to listen to Bas' instructions, then glances over to Davies. "Preferably the latter? I wouldn't want to be in sight of everyone's uncle out there as we're working."

Bas watches the flare go up and nods, "Alright… wait for it to burn out then we move out." He says, "No talking once we're in no mans land." he adds.

Davies squints against the sudden light of the flare, almost holding his breath as it burns in the sky.

Bas says "Go!"

«Ground Combat» Bas moves South <S>.

Kelly averts his eyes as the light starts to fade and jumps to his feet.

«Ground Combat» Kelly moves South <S>.

No Mans Land

The Grid-----> > > > > THE GREATEST GENERATION < < <

Coordinates : 11 1

The road near the Nimy canal is sun baked and dry, tufty, yellowing grass on either side of it. Even with the war so close the occasional horse and cart can be seen, used by the locals, who seem very calm. The terrain is almost completely bare except for the occasional hedgerow by the road, but quite often the fields are completely open.

Bas creeps out onto the road beyond their trenches, and he nods towards Teamann, pointing at his wire bundles and gesturing along the lone. He then takes up a position peering to the south to keep a lookout for the Hun.

«Ground Combat» You are now peeking into Clear.

Davies creeps out of the (very relative) safety of their line and into the dark expanse between them and the Germans. He then starts to unravel the wire and get to laying it, his hands shaking as he goes.

Teamann nods, and wriggles over to start laying wire. He pulls it from his pack and gets to it, looking to Davies. A little smile. Fidget. Lay wire.

Bas brings two fingers towards his eyes, infact, and points rather pointedly towards the Hun's trenches, leveling his rifle a bit just incase.

Kelly is about to encourage the wire layers when he remembers to keep silent, and settles into a watch southward as well.

«Entrenchment» Teamann lays down some wire obstacles on North <N>.

«Ground Combat» You look around for hidden targets in your line of sight.

Kelly motions with one finger towards his eye, then towards the German trenches to let Bas know what he sees. A frown and a slight lifting of his rifle as well.

Bas seems to be fairly satisfied with the shot he's lined up… Poor Fritz probably doesn't even know a bullet with his name on it is in Bas's chamber.

Davies manages to get a length of wire down across part of the trench line, joining it up with Teamann's work. He looks over in the dark toward the combat engineer, giving him a bobbing little nod.

Teamann wigglewigglewire. Teamann manages to meet up with Davies, in terms of wire. He nods back. Just a little more. Although, it seems that perhaps shooting may begin? He looks concerned.

«Entrenchment» Teamann lays down some wire obstacles on North <N>.

Kelly realizes he's holding his breath and exhales silently. His eyes are very wide, trying to fight against the darkness.

Fritz yawns. Why does /he/ get the night shift.

Davies isn't so quick about this work as Teamann, but he keeps at it as methodically as he can manage. He senses the Jerries out there south of them, all their bullets no-doubt trained on his back.

Bas keeps that finger on the trigger, ready to splatter Fritz, just in case, as he finds a good place to rest his rifle on. He doesn't seem too worried about the others doing their work while he watches the sentry.

«Entrenchment» Davies lays down some wire obstacles on North <N>.

Davies has to stop himself from crying out when the light fills the sky. He chokes on the scream in his throat, and gulps audibly.

Teamann is pretty quick. Perhaps his fidgeting is the secret? He seems uneasy though. The Huns are out there. They are. And then, light. Dreaded light, when normally light is welcome. He goes stock still, even as he was pulling wire from his kit.

Kelly jerks as a light suddenly throws No Man's Land into relief and blinks rapidly.

«Entrenchment» Davies lays down some wire obstacles on North <N>.

«Entrenchment» Teamann lays down some wire obstacles on North <N>.

Bas holds up a hand a bit to still everyone, and he closes one of his eyes as the flare goes off, his gaze hawk-like on the Hun in the lines beyond, though, and his hand is back on that trigger super fast.

Davies desperately gets some wire down. His hands will be sore and cut when all this is done, but that seems preferable to dying. His gestures to Bas when he's linked his latest roll of it up with Teamann's. It's 6 thick now.

Teamann thumbsups to Davies, and their wiring seems done. HE helps join the wires and wiggles away from it a little.

Kelly lets out a breath, eyes rolling with relief. 1/3 of the job is done? He gives Davies and Tea a toothy grin before returning back to watch the Fritz Show.

Fritz looks around surreptitiously. It's very dark. Time to take a quiet leak in the trench, nobody is gonna know. And he's bursting!

Davies lets himself breathe again as the lights go out.

Bas breathes a little softer now as the flare goes out. And he gestures a little, indicating that the wiring team ought to move further down the line. He keeps his rifle pointed at ol' Fritz though.

Davies gets ready to head east, down the line, for more laying.

«Ground Combat» Davies moves East <E>.

«Ground Combat» Teamann moves East <E>.

«Ground Combat» Bas moves East <E>.

«Ground Combat» Kelly moves East <E>.

No Mans Land

The Grid-----> > > > > THE GREATEST GENERATION < < <

Coordinates : 12 1

The road near the Nimy canal is sun baked and dry, tufty, yellowing grass on either side of it. Even with the war so close the occasional horse and cart can be seen, used by the locals, who seem very calm. The terrain is almost completely bare except for the occasional hedgerow by the road, but quite often the fields are completely open.

Davies gets another length of wire laid down. He then turns to gesture to Bas in an empty-pocket sort of way. Like a very bad Charlie Chaplin impersonator. Then it just occurs to him to whisper, "That's the last of my wire, Sergeant."

«Ground Combat» Stumpff fires his Gewehr 98 at Teamann and hits!

Teamann suffers 2 wound damage to his left chest.

«Ground Combat» Bas fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Latimer and hits!

Latimer suffers 1 wound damage to his head.

«Ground Combat» Latimer fires his Gewehr 98 at Teamann but misses!

Bas wings Latimer in his dumb face, though… not quite the same as the big bleeding hole in his own leg, "Here, come get some!" he says, getting ready to toss one of his bundles.

Latimer scowls as he takes a shot that grazes his scalp. He continues firing as blood leaks down the side of his head. "Scheisse.", he mutters.

Fritz runs down the trench when he hears the call. "Englanders on the road?" he asks, a bit incredulous. Fools.

«Entrenchment» Teamann lays down some wire obstacles on North <N>.

Bas keeps up the fire on Stumpff. Bang Bang… catching a hand then another miss. "Shoulda shot that Hun when I had him in my sights!"

Teamann thumbsups. "Wire's done," He murmurs.

Kelly was moving… just - slowly? He's inching along, mumbling something akin to a prayer to not be noticed.

«Ground Combat» Bas fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Fritz but misses!

«Ground Combat» Stumpff fires his Gewehr 98 at Teamann but misses!

Bas says "Start moving east!"

Bas says "Don't forget the wire!"

«Equipment» Teamann picks up Wire.

Stumpff manages to put a shoddy bandage on the remains of his hand. He continues firing. "Ja, to the north. Laying barbed wire."

Davies nods, though he seems reluctant to move while Kelly is still struggling off the field. He gathers up what supplies are about as he prepares to head off.

Teamann stuffs the wire into his kit, hurrying.

«Ground Combat» Bas fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Fritz but misses!

Fritz peeks cautiously over the lip of the trench. Spots a shadow out in the darkness. And a muzzle flash, too.

Bas keeps shooting away, popping off shots just as fast as he can at the Hun out there in the trench. Not trying to be super accurate…

«Ground Combat» Stumpff fires his Gewehr 98 at Bas but misses!

«Ground Combat» Bas fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Fritz and hits!

Hits hard cover.

«Equipment» Teamann picks up Wire.

«Ground Combat» Stumpff fires his Gewehr 98 at Davies but misses!

«Ground Combat» Bas fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Fritz but misses!

Kelly is inching, then stopping. Then inching. Stop. Inch. How he'd love to just make a break for it, but the pain in his stomach is burning with every move. Oh, and there's still bullets flying.

«Ground Combat» Stumpff fires his Gewehr 98 at Bas but misses!

«Ground Combat» Bas fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Stumpff but misses!

Davies tries to keep in step with Teamann. He's reluctant to head forward alone. His shoulders hunch at the continued sound of gunfire.

Bas keeps popping off round after round after round at the Hun, doing his best to keep their heads down while he keeps his down too!

«Ground Combat» Bas fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Stumpff and hits!

Stumpff suffers 6 wound damage to his right hand.

«Ground Combat» Stumpff has been taken out!

Bas scores his second Hun of the evening… through a Hand Shot at that, he then levels his gaze on Fritz, grinning a little viciously.

«Ground Combat» Bas reloads his Lee Enfield SMLE!

«Ground Combat» Bas fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Fritz but misses!

Stumpff continues working his rifle, but the front sight post sways wildly in his vision as his ruined hand cannot stablize it long enough for any semblance of accuracy. But then he takes another bullet, and the round rips through the makeshift bandage and pretty much vaporizes whatever flesh and bone was left in a spray, black in what little light is left. He collapses, in shock and bleeding out.

Bas continues to fire on the Hun lines, "I'll keep their heads down! I'll be right behind you." he says, continuing to shoot at Fritz now that he's reloaded his Enfield.

«Ground Combat» Bas fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Fritz but misses!

«Ground Combat» Fritz fires his Gewehr 98 at Bas but misses!

Davies swallows hard and heads east.

«Ground Combat» Davies moves East <E>.

«Ground Combat» Bas fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Fritz but misses!

«Ground Combat» Bas fires his Lee Enfield SMLE at Fritz but misses!

«Ground Combat» Teamann moves East <E>.

Kelly grumbles something about the Holy Family as he finally lurches northward.

«Ground Combat» Kelly moves North <N>.

«Ground Combat» Fritz fires his Gewehr 98 at Bas but misses!

(Feel free to add the rest of the battle here…)

Davies comes from the direction of the trenches, helping along a very bleeding Teamann. He scans the faces of the men coming in, especially those on stretchers. Perhaps hoping to see one of his comrades.

Turner is still sitting up in his bed, restricted from going due to wounds from the previous engagement. The young Corporal looks not at all pleased about it. As the men begin to stream back from the action he pushes up in his bed trying to get a view of who all make it back.

Teamann is leaking a bit, it's true. Teamann is a little less wriggly. But he is being helped back in. He looks duly grateful to Davies, as he's filed in among the wounded.

Kelly is one of those to be found on a stretcher, his pallor bringing out the still lively color of his bright blue eyes as they search the group. Despite the red stain on his abdomen and the intense grimace of pain, he sure is rolling from side to side, searching the faces of those walking in. "Ah! Jack!" he calls across to Davies. "And Teamann - Christ, they got you too?"

"You can sit down over here, I think," Davies says, helping Teamann over to a bench in the triage area. Surely a doctor or nurse will be able to see to him there shortly. He passes Kelly on his way there, his face lighting up. "Tommy! Hello! Didn't know what'd happened to you back there? You alright? That looked like a near thing, that did."

Turner frowns deeply as he sees the wounded men wander in, reaching for a crutch and hobbling over with some sterilized bandages while the nurses help to triage. "'Ey lads? Yeh all make it back?", Turner asks, trying to keep his spirits up. He might get some disapproving looks from actual Doctors and nurses (if they weren't so busy) but he's going to make sure his mates don't have any too bad of bleeders.

Teamann nods glumly to Kelly. "Yeah. They were just jealous of us laying wire so well," He beams at Davies. They did well, right? "Thanks," He'll take a seat on the bench. He winces. His breath is a little short though. But he'll make it. He just seems a little dinged up.

The chest wound is hard to get a good look at for Turner as he slides a wad of bandaged beneath Teamann's shirt. He then unrolls some more to staunch the bleeding on the man's arm. "Sorry I wasn't with you, lads. With my leg still acting up … more likely a liability.", Turner says a little guiltily.

"I donno either," Kelly muses as he's helped to a more permanent spot on a cot. "One second I was passing the wire, the next feeling like I'd eaten too many of my gran's black puddings." He glances over to Teamann over on the bench, solemn, "He wrapped me up right fast just as I thought I was — well, you know." He's still shifting about. "Yourself? What about sarge?"

"Corporal Turner. Alright!" Davies says to Turner, with something resembling his usual enthusiasm. Though it's a bit more forced than usual. "Got plucked for a wiring party. Sergeant Bas was leading it. You…err…haven't seen him about here, have you?"

Teamann pauses. "Sarge was knocked out, I - am not sure. I'm sure he's fine. He was picking them off well enough," He offers. He smiles faintly to Turner. He winces as some of the bleeding is staunched. "And you can't help it," He offers to Turner. "I just got a few extra holes…" Then a beam at Kelly. "I learned a little while I was here. I think."

"Can't say that I have but … he's likely somewhere. Hospital's a big place.", Turner responds to Davies, shaking his head just a bit as he finishes wrapping up Teamann. It's not expert work but hopefully it helps with the clotting process. "Eh. Not to worry lads - you'll have the radiant Miss King and MIss Ingels seeing to yeh." He tries to keep spirits up but he hates seeind the lads in such sorry shape. The fact that the Sergeant hasn't shown doesn't help.

Davies nods. "Maybe I'll go…help with the stretchers, or something." He then kind of aimlessly wanders off, probably more to rubberneck the incoming and see if Bas turns up as much as anything else.

Kelly scratches at his forehead with his pinky. "Well… Sarge may be towards the back of the line. Don't worry too much, Jack." He flops back on the cot, exhaustion from the tension and now the uncertainty of Bas' fate starting to take its toll.

Teamann will wait his turn for medical care, going quiet now to watch for Bas and anyone else who went along. He smiles faintly at Turner.